How do I replace an outlet?


Hello everyone,
Just received 2 PorterPorts and want to replace my electrical outlets. Can someone point me to a web link or give me directions on how to do this? I was told it's fairly easy to do so I want to give it a try.

Thanks!
audire
You can easily electrocute yourself with home electricity, so if you have any doubts about what you are doing, hire a pro.

With that caveat, the first thing to do is make sure the outlet you are swapping out is OFF AT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. Plug a lamp into it so the lamp is on, and flip circuit breakers until it turns off. Double check your work.

Now, make sure its OFF again...

The front plate of an outlet usually has a single standard screw in the middle. Take out the screw, remove the plate. Sometimes the plate gets put on while the paint underneath is still wet, so they will stick. You might find running a razor blade around the outside will help free it and avoid tearing your latex paint.

The outlet should now be exposed; there should be two standard screws holding it into the electrical box, one at the top, and one at the bottom. Remove those and pull the outlet out so the wires are exposed. You should generally find a bare copper wire (safety ground), a white wire (neutral) and a black wire (hot). Look at your new outlet and it should have polarity designations on it. Typical home outlets have the wires connected with either screws or the wires are held in with a little tension device. If they are held in with screws, unscrew 'em. For the ones that look like the wires just go into little holes, there is usually a hole next to the wire where the release is--you stick a small screwdriver into it to depress a tab and pull out on the wire.

Connect your new outlet to the wires; usually the bare copper safety ground will attach to a screw painted green or with green lacquer on it on the body of the outlet. Push the wires and the outlet back into the electrical box, attach with the screws on the top and bottom, and replace the face plate. The outlet usually has some play to it so you can adjust it side to side to make sure the front plate lines up right. Once its adjusted, flip the breaker back on and look for fireworks. If you don't get fireworks, try a lamp and see if that works. If that works, plug in your expensive electronics...

Again, make bloody sure the outlet is not hot when you work on it. If there is someone else in your house, make sure they know *not* to flip the breaker back on while you are working. I think its the trades practice to put a piece of tape over the breaker to make it real obvious the breaker is off for a reason...
I would suggest, at least the first time find a friend who has done some basic wiring and get them to show you what to do. It is very easy for anyone with even the most basic skills. Just make sure the power is off from the breaker panel!!!

Reader Digest and many other publications have diagramed instructions for doing things like this, but a few minutes with a friend would be of greater value.

Be careful.
Audire, have you read the above responses or are you just not getting the message? When dealing with electricity, if you don't know what you're doing, then get someone who does.